ทำ
do
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 do、perform、carry out、work
- 2 make、create、produce、prepare、cook
- 3 make (someone/something become)、cause、bring about
- 4 do (grooming/treatment)、have done、style、treat
- 5 pretend、act as if、behave、know how to do [ทำเป็น]
ทำ is a core Thai verb for doing an action, making something, or causing a result. It works much like a broad “do/make” verb, and many common meanings come from fixed combinations with other words.
do、perform、carry out、work
This is the basic sense of doing or performing an action, task, duty, or work. It often combines with a noun to name an activity.
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ทำอะไรอยู่? tham aray yùu What are you doing? ทำอะไรอยู่? details
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ทำการบ้าน tham kaan bâan do homework ทำการบ้าน details
make、create、produce、prepare、cook
This sense means to make, create, produce, prepare, or cook something, from physical objects to food, drinks, documents, and projects.
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ทำอาหาร tham aahǎan cook food; make a meal ทำอาหาร details
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ทำกาแฟให้หน่อย tham kaafɛɛ hây nɔ̀ɔy Can you make me some coffee? ทำกาแฟให้หน่อย details
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เว็บนี้ทำยากไหม? wép níi tham yâak mǎy Is this website hard to make? เว็บนี้ทำยากไหม? details
make (someone/something become)、cause、bring about
This sense means to cause something to happen or make someone or something become a certain way. The pattern ทำให้ is especially important for “make/cause.”
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อย่าทำเสียงดัง yàa tham sǐaŋ daŋ Don’t make loud noise. อย่าทำเสียงดัง details
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ฉันทำกระเป๋าสตางค์หาย chǎn tham krapǎw sataaŋ hǎay I lost my wallet. ฉันทำกระเป๋าสตางค์หาย details
do (grooming/treatment)、have done、style、treat
This sense refers to having or doing a treatment, styling, grooming, repair, or procedure, especially for hair, nails, teeth, beauty, or the body.
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ไปทำผม pay tham phǒm go get one’s hair done ไปทำผม details
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ทำเล็บที่ร้านนี้ tham lép thîi ráan níi get nails done at this shop ทำเล็บที่ร้านนี้ details
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พรุ่งนี้ต้องไปทำฟัน phrûŋníi tɔ̂ŋ pay tham fan I have to go to the dentist tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้ต้องไปทำฟัน details
pretend、act as if、behave、know how to do [ทำเป็น]
This sense is about acting or behaving in a certain way, especially pretending. In the pattern ทำเป็น, the meaning can be either “pretend to” or “know how to,” depending on context.
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อย่าทำเป็นไม่รู้ yàa tham pen mây rúu Don’t pretend you don’t know. อย่าทำเป็นไม่รู้ details
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เขาทำตัวดีขึ้น khǎw tham tua dii khʉ̂n He behaves better now. เขาทำตัวดีขึ้น details
Learning notes
Explanation
ทำ has a broad core idea: applying effort or action to do something, make something, or bring about a result. By itself it means “do,” but the natural English translation changes with the object: work, do homework, cook, clean, make coffee, and so on. The pattern ทำให้ is especially useful for expressing cause, as in making someone happy or causing a delay. It is best learned through common combinations rather than as one fixed English word.
Usage
It appears in almost every setting: daily conversation, school, work, chores, cooking, beauty services, medical visits, and procedures. For learners, the most useful early patterns are ทำอะไร, ทำงาน, ทำการบ้าน, ทำอาหาร, and ทำให้...
Caution
Do not translate every “do” or “make” into ทำ automatically. “Call someone” is usually โทร or โทรหา, and “study” is often เรียน or อ่านหนังสือ. Also, ทำเป็น can mean either “pretend to” or “know how to,” so context matters.
Differences from similar words
1 do synonyms
2 make synonyms
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ผลิต means to manufacture or produce, often commercially or industrially. ทำ is natural for everyday making, cooking, and preparing.
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สร้าง emphasizes building or creating something substantial, such as a building, work, or system. ทำ is broader and more everyday, including food, documents, and small tasks.